Pinot Nero

The Wine

The first vintage to be produced was the 1990 vintage. The wine is made entirely with Pinot Nero grapes and is considered Cervaro’s alter ego: together they represent the two different expressions of Castello della Sala’s complex and refined spirit. Four hectares (10 acres) of Pinot Nero vineyards sit at an altitude of 400 meters (1312 feet) above sea level on calcareous soils rich in fossils with sedimentary sands from the Pliocene epoch.

Historical Data

The ten acres (four hectares) of Pinot Noir grapes at the Castello della Sala estate are situated at an altitude of over 1300 feet (400 meters) above sea level on calcareous soils rich in marine fossils which alternate with strata of sedimentary sands from the Pliocene epoch. The wine was first produced in 1990. Castello della Sala is a fortress erected in the 14th century located approximately ten miles (18 kilometers) from the city of Orvieto and was acquired by the Antinori family in 1940.

The Wine

The first vintage to be produced was the 1990 vintage. The wine is made entirely with Pinot Nero grapes and is considered Cervaro’s alter ego: together they represent the two different expressions of Castello della Sala’s complex and refined spirit. Four hectares (10 acres) of Pinot Nero vineyards sit at an altitude of 400 meters (1312 feet) above sea level on calcareous soils rich in fossils with sedimentary sands from the Pliocene epoch.

A red amidst whites

At Castello della Sala, an area historically important for white wines, Pinot Nero offers an authentic and typical expression of its variety with a strong territorial character.

Winding vineyards

The 4 hectares (10 acres) of Pinot Nero grow along the hillsides shaping the landscape into a series of sinuous terraced vineyards.

Understanding nature

The particularly hot climate of Castello della Sala has forced agronomists to invent new ways to protect the grapes from the hot summer sun. The vines’ shoots are allowed to grow in length and are then folded over the plant so its leaves can shade the Pinot Nero grape clusters.

Climate

The 2015 vintage was characterized by a winter climate with average rainfall and by a mild spring. Good reserves of ground water accumulated in the soil allowed the vines to confront in good conditions of health a dry, but never excessively hot, summer. Bud burst took place slightly ahead of the 2014 date, as did the flowering and, immediately afterwards, the bud set. The cycle of the growing season, on the whole, benefitted from very useful temperature swings from daytime warmth to evening and nighttime coolness, ideal for the proper ripening of the grapes. The picking of the Pinot Noir crop began during the first ten days of the month of September.

Vinification

After a soft destemming and pressing, the must went into small, conical, stainless steel fermenters where it was given a cold three day maceration on its skins and then fermented for a week. The fermentation took place at temperatures of 79° Fahrenheit (26° centigrade) and finished in small French oak barrels, where it also went through a complete malolactic fermentation. The barrel aging period continued for ten months, and the wine was then bottled. It was marketed only after a period of bottle aging in the historic Castello della Sala cellars.

Historical Data

The ten acres (four hectares) of Pinot Noir grapes at the Castello della Sala estate are situated at an altitude of over 1300 feet (400 meters) above sea level on calcareous soils rich in marine fossils which alternate with strata of sedimentary sands from the Pliocene epoch. The wine was first produced in 1990. Castello della Sala is a fortress erected in the 14th century located approximately ten miles (18 kilometers) from the city of Orvieto and was acquired by the Antinori family in 1940.

Tasting Notes

A ruby red in color typical of its grape variety, the wine offers floral notes along with aromas of red currants and strawberries.
The palate is elegant and of much finesse with soft and silky tannins which, however, do not cover the perceptibly mineral character which assists the length and persistence of the finish and aftertaste.

Castello della Sala

Castello della Sala is located in the Umbria region, not far from the Tuscan border, about 18 kilometers from the historic city of Orvieto.
The Medieval castle’s property extends over an area of 500 hectares (1235 acres), 170 hectares (420 acres) are planted with vineyards at an altitude that varies between 220 and 470 meters above sea level (722/1541 feet) on the gently rolling hillsides that characterize the beautiful countryside in this area.
Castello della Sala is the perfect place for growing white varieties. The vines grow in clay and calcareous based soils, rich in fossil shells, and they are well exposed to the rising of the sun with an excellent difference of temperature between day and night.
The one exception to the rule is Pinot Noir, the only red variety that has found in this area ideal growing conditions to best express its full potential.

Soil

Calcareous soil with fossils and sedimentary sand dating back to the Pliocene period.